So every seven years your substance is new

Sunrise 1

Sunrise 2

Sunrise 3

Today I went just before sunset for a walk at Tremanskärr swamp. I had rubber boots, and so I was able to explore the swamp which was partly frozen but not yet carried a person. It started snowing after sunset, but that didn't last long, and what snow there was started melting away. The temperature rose to +2 °C from -8 °C which we had during the night.

These photographs were taken in Helsinki on November 15th just before sunrise.

(Posting title is from the poem City Elegies by Robert Pinsky.)

The forward-flowing tide of time

Night 1

Night 2

Night 3

These photographs were taken handheld while going for a walk on November 16th. On most days there is very little experience of sunlight; the length of day is now 6 h 26 min, and the darkest time looms ahead.

(Posting title is from the poem Recollections of the Arabian Nights by Lord Tennyson.)

But all at once I saw where my argument must run

Night 1

Night 2

Night 3

Well, the trip to Brussels and back happened without problems. In fact, everything was just about perfect. I was at the meeting place 15 minutes early, and then the meeting started 15 minutes late, so there was time get the necessary paperwork sorted out in a relaxed manner.

And when starting back the Friday afternoon rush hour in Brussels wasn't too bad, and I got to the airport early enough so that I didn't need to stress too much at the security check.

But after 16 hours of traveling and attending the meeting it is good to be back. Here are some night photographs taken on November 16th.

(Posting title is from the poem Red Moon Eclogues by Mark Tredinnick.)

It was good for my heart

Oittaa 1

Oittaa 2

If everything goes according to plan, I should fly to Bryssels and back home today, but one never knows with air travel. For example, Icelandic ash in 2010.

(Posting title is from the poem Leaves Fell by Juhan Liiv, translated by H.L. Hix and Jüri Talvet.)

Steps out of the lake

Oittaa 1

Oittaa 2

I'm not sure if there is anything connecting these photographs, except Oittaa, south of lake Bodom, where the photographs were taken.

(Posting title is from the poem A Poem That Starts Out Wrong by Landis Everson.)

And thought if I turn my head to the left

Pirttimäki

Occasionally we do have sunshine, even though the days are short (6 h 36 min) and it often is clouded. This was Pirttimäki on November 17th.

(Posting title is from the poem Calling Him Back from Layoff by Bob Hicok.)

By the marsh grass waving

Swamp 1

Swamp 2

Swamp 3

Swamp 4

Here are some more photographs taken at Tremanskärr swamp on November 17th. The only drawback about Tremanskärr is the road noise which is rather prominent. Also, aircraft fly low overhead, to/from Helsinki-Vantaa airport which is nearby. In fact, I'll be flying from/to Helsinki-Vantaa airport on Friday.

Yesterday morning was cold, -7 °C at 6:40 when I left for work. I commuted by bicycle, and the commute takes now a bit longer than during summer, because of thicker clothing, studded winter tires, and more friction in the chain and gears. I have tested the lobster-style bicycle gloves a couple of times, and they have proved to be warm indeed, in fact even a bit too warm for this weather. But it is better to have warm and sweaty hands than cold and dry.

(Posting title is from the poem Stranding by Tom Sleigh.)

From somewhere so deep inside the earth

Trees 1

Trees 2

Trees 3

Trees 4

Trees 5

Sometimes it is good to point the camera up, to see what is there above. This was Tremanskärr swamp on November 17th after sunset.

(Posting title is from the poem Requests for Toy Piano by Tony Hoagland.)

And moving in a limited supply

Blur 1

Blur 2

Some days are just so blurry. This is Tremanskärr swamp, photographs taken on November 17th, walking there with my daughters just after sunset.

(Posting title is from the poem Manufacturing by Alan Shapiro.)

The turning of the globe is not so real to us

Puddles

Bodom

Fence

These photographs were taken two weeks ago at Oittaa, by the south shore of lake Bodom.

On Sunday I changed studded winter tires to the car. So far I have managed without, but the weather forecast promises temperatures down to -5 °C next week, and roads may get slippery. I have installed studded tires both in bicycle and car, so I'm ready for winter roads.

(Posting title is from the poem Hymn to Life by James Schuyler.)

Then why not witness, calmly gazing

Construct

Street

Trees

Maybe I should post some more cheerful photographs to lighten the dark time of the year, but I don't have much choice. These photographs of Helsinki street views were taken while commuting by car.

On Saturday I went for a walk with my daughter to Kakarsberget at Kauhala in Kirkkonummi. This was the first time there, exploring the rocky hills west of the the Ämmässuo garbage dump. This doesn't sound like a very tempting site for visiting, but there was no noise or smell coming from Ämmässuo direction.

The map I had wasn't up-to-date, and most of the paths were not marked on the map, but we managed to find the place where the best view is from the top of the cliffs towards west. Some deer were calmly eating on a field beside a small road half a kilometer away. My daughter spotted them with her excellent eyesight, I wouldn't have noticed anything without her.

(Posting title is from the poem Song by Robert Browning.)

We rule the world our life’s whole race

Crane

Walk

Bicycle

Street views of Helsinki on November 14th. Days are now getting so short that it is dark when I leave for work and dark when I commute back home.

(Posting title is from the poem The Answer by Anne Finch.)

You can’t tell anything much about who you are

Lines 1

Lines 2

Lines 3

I don't feel especially energetic, but these photographs have some energy in the air. And we have sunlight today, which is great after the rainy and clouded week. Well, not that much sunlight, as the length of day is now 6 h 53 min, but even a little bit is good.

(Posting title is from the poem Ancestral Lines by David Ferry.)

But from the sea into the ship we turn

Sky 1

Sky 2

Sky 2

Sky 2

Here are photographs taken just before sunrise in Helsinki, while commuting by car.

(Posting title is from the poem The Calm by John Donne.)

He spreads out his arms to the light

Crossing

Light

Gallery

Stream

This was another excessively busy day, but I felt that a lot of good things happened. Not a bad way to start the weekend. Also, I commuted by bicycle, and after the pause this felt really good. The studded winter tires are heavier that the summer tires, but it didn't felt all that different. Well, maybe the commute time is a couple of minutes longer.

The photographs were taken a week ago, street views of Helsinki.

(Posting title is from the poem The Future by Matthew Arnold.)

Made do with the affection of a friend

Blur 1

Blur 2

Blur 3

Blur 4

Blurry photographs, they fit the mood. Well, maybe the weekend helps.

(Posting title is from the poem The Dictionary of Silence by Debora Greger.)

There, through the last of the sentences, just there

Signs

Lights

Helsinki

Blue

Do you think I'm still feeling blue? Well, I am. But the rain we have had for several days should stop tomorrow, and I think I'll try commuting by bicycle. I had the front wheel replaced with a new one, and I have now studded winter tires in the bicycle. The weather forecast predicts below freezing temperatures for the next week, so changing tires was probably a good idea.

(Posting title is from the poem Travel Papers by Carolyn Forché.)